Virulent Newcastle Disease: The Poultry Grim Reaper

Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) is the poultry Grim Reaper; this highly contagious, incurable viral disease affects birds and poultry worldwide, killing victims within days of exposure, often with no warning signs. Southern California chicken keepers have been living a bad Hollywood movie starring virulent Newcastle Disease (formerly known as exotic Newcastle disease) since May 2018 when the first case of over 230 was confirmed in a backyard exhibition flock. Three cases have been confirmed in commercial laying hen flocks in the past 3 weeks. (today’s date is 1/10/19) Euthanasia (aka: “depopulation”) is mandatory for poultry in areas identified as Ground Zero during a vND outbreak. Mandatory. Depopulation is the only way to stop the spread of the virus.

UPDATE: 1/18/19 – Today the USDA confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in backyard exhibition chickens in Utah County, Utah. This is believed to be connected to the current outbreak in California, as three of the birds at the premises were recently moved to Utah from Los Angeles County, CA. UPDATE: 2/1/19: 110 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 2/8/19: 22 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 2/15/18: 10 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 2/22/19: 8 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 3/1/19: 8 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 3/7/19: 9 more cases confirmed in CA. UPDATE: 3/15/19: 5 more cases confirmed in southern California and one case detected in northern California.

Virulent Newcastle Disease is not endemic to the United States, it is brought here by a number of sources including: illegally imported birds such as parrots, game fowl for fighting, and certain wildlife. While government officials work to contain and eliminate vND in California, we backyard chicken keepers have a responsibility to understand the significance of this viral killer and the potential ramifications of our actions for our birds as well as others. As poultry keepers, we have a shared responsibility to be good stewards of the species with an obligation to prevent deadly devastation to them on an unthinkable scale.

These signs can be indicative of a whole panoply of poultry diseases, so don’t rush to any conclusions if you see any of these signs in your flock, but do contact the USDA promptly at 1-866-536-7593 or your state’s governing agency listed HERE to speak with an animal health professional for further direction.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

Virulent Newcastle Disease spreads when healthy birds come in direct contact with bodily fluids from sick birds. The virus can travel on manure, poultry equipment, vehicles, feathers, eggshells, and people who have the virus on their clothing, footwear or hands. There are different strains of Newcastle Disease for which there are vaccines, however, even vaccinated birds can be infected die from vND. The origin of vND in the 2002 outbreak was illegally imported gamefowl. While imported birds are closely regulated at the three ports of entry into the US, (LA, Miami & NYC) illegal imports of parrots (members of the psittacine family) are a known vector along with certain wild birds, including doves & pigeons, and specific waterfowl.

BIOSECURITY DOs & DON’Ts DURING AN OUTBREAK

During a poultry health crisis such as an outbreak of Virulent Newcastle disease or Avian Influenza in your area don’t be a link in the chain of bad practices that brings disease into your flock or infects others’.

DON’T bring any birds into or out of your yardDON’T borrow or loan anything (tools, equipment, clothing, incubators, brooders) from potential disease carriers or from high risk locations. DON’T visit high risk locations, including: other chicken yards, poultry shows, farms, ag fairs, chicken swaps, auctions or other places live birds are found.

DO wash hands before and after entering any poultry yard or feed store.DO assign dedicated footwear to your chicken yard that is only worn on your property.DO clean and disinfect tires before returning home from a feed store or other locations frequented by poultry keepers.DO report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials right away, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

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Comments

Thank you so much for the update on virulent Newcastle disease. We are keeping a close watch in rural Pennsylvania on our flocks.

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1 month ago

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Shirley Lampe

Never heard of it this thank you for all your great information

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2 months ago

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Badal Singh

great advise for protecting the our live birds from ND….

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2 months ago

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Lisa Brackeen

This is just horrible!!! Never heard off VND and never want to see this in my chickens-great advice on protecting your flock!!! VERT SCARY!!!!!!

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2 months ago

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Natalie Leu

I live in S.Cal and have been trying to find out where, what area in Los Angeles the VnD outbreak is. I I would like to know if it is any where near where I live. I have asked the Dr.s at UC Davis where I send birds for necropsy but they wont tell me. Do you know?